my dog is a german shepard great dane and as of late he is having trouble getting off the floor. he is a little over weight. he is scratching himself alot (i think its from dry skin) idk if that could be a reason why he is having trouble. when he is outside playing with my other dog he is fine and he runs around our yard. he was limping a couple of days ago. does anyone know a reason or a thought and what to do

allfurlove

August 18th, 2009, 06:43 PM

Both of his breeds are prone to joint problems, and being overweight certainly doesnt help. Dry skin is probably food-related. What do you feed him? How old is he?
It sounds like he is in some pain. Time for a visit to the vet. They can give you something to help him, pain meds, or a supplement to ease his joints.
Be wary of any diet food they try to sell you. Vet foods tend to be overpriced and low-quality. There is lots of info in the food forum here, and many helpful members.

liltigera1

August 18th, 2009, 07:28 PM

he eats the green bag of iams dog food. he is about 3 and a half years old

liltigera1

August 18th, 2009, 07:30 PM

he had alot of baths last month trying to get rid of flies so i thought thats why he had dry skin

liltigera1

August 18th, 2009, 07:35 PM

This is Liltigera1's stepmom - he is getting a good quality food - and is losing weight now (this time of year he is active and we keep him moving), we are wondering if he should have extra padding to sleep on or if we should be adding something to his food like oil to help combat the dry skin. he likes to sleep on the bare floor when it is hot out.

allfurlove

August 18th, 2009, 09:03 PM

Hi, yes Salmon oil would be great for his dry skin, and for joint problems. When using salmon oil you must also supplement with vitamin E. Here is a really good link about this http://www.dogaware.com/arthritis.html

liltigera1

August 18th, 2009, 09:12 PM

ok thank you so much for all your help

allfurlove

August 18th, 2009, 09:17 PM

Glad to help...but I demand doggy pics as payment :D:laughing:

hazelrunpack

August 18th, 2009, 10:30 PM

Your first step should definitely be the vet visit. At 3.5 years of age, it isn't normal for a dog to have joint problems. You'll want to rule out dysplasias and diseases that can cause joint pain--are you in an area where there are ticks? Many of the tick-borne diseases can cause joint pain and are readily treatable with antibiotics.

If he does have joint problems, getting his weight down will help a lot. Glucosamine/chondriotin supplements may also help.

As for the flea baths--you can get topical treatments for fleas from your vet that will work much better than OTC flea meds/shampoos and not dry your dog's skin! :thumbs up

growler~GateKeeper

August 19th, 2009, 03:10 AM

he eats the green bag of iams dog food. he is about 3 and a half years old

This is Liltigera1's stepmom - he is getting a good quality food - and is losing weight now (this time of year he is active and we keep him moving), we are wondering if he should have extra padding to sleep on or if we should be adding something to his food like oil to help combat the dry skin. he likes to sleep on the bare floor when it is hot out.

I think every dog likes something soft & cushiony to sleep on, with the option to lay on bare floors to help cool.

Does the limping seem to stem from the legs or the hip? It would be a good idea to have hip xrays taken given that GSDs & Great Danes are both prone to hip issues, it would also make a great reference tool for later in life to compare to should there be any hint of dysplasia.

As for the food I'm assuming you mean the Iams® ProActive Health™ Large Breed

Which would you rather eat? :D The first eight ingredients in the Iams there is only 1 acceptable protein source where as the Acana and Orijen have 5.

A change in diet to a healthier food will help to clear up the dry skin issues.

mastifflover

August 19th, 2009, 08:05 AM

First off welcome to the board. I would switch the food if price is an issue try the presidents choice 1st food it is pretty good. Honestly Iams sucks as far as quality goes I think the second ingredient is corn or right near the top and corn is just filler no nutritional value at all. Second I would get a thicker bed Costco online has memory foam dog beds and they are reasonable and really good. I have used them with my Mastiffs. A vet check would be in order big dogs are prone to joint problems and adding glucosamine to the food is a good supplement for joint and bones. Limit the amount of running and jumping he may have pulled a ligament or muscle. Please let us know how your dog is doing

kandy

August 19th, 2009, 06:23 PM

Hi, yes Salmon oil would be great for his dry skin, and for joint problems. When using salmon oil you must also supplement with vitamin E. Here is a really good link about this http://www.dogaware.com/arthritis.html

Alot of salmon oil supplements already have vitamin e in them (if it has rosemary extract, then it has vitamin e). It's used as a preservative in the salmon oil. If the supplement you choose does not have vitamin e, then you will need to add it as the extra omega 3's will slowly deplete the body's reserve.

Large/Giant breed dogs have more stress on their joints even under the best circumstances. Having the dog overweight, even just a tad, will increase that stress. Also, allowing the dog to jump on and off furniture or in/out of vehicles will jar the joints.

friend2animals

August 21st, 2009, 02:51 PM

You might want to try a med called "Deramaxx". Ask you vet if this is appropriate for your dog's particular issue. It is not holistic in nature, but from first hand experience, is quite helpful!